Picking the best email marketing software in 2026 needs careful thought. You need to think about important features. Also, consider good prices. It should be easy to use. It also needs to grow with your business. This guide compares email marketing software. It will help you choose. The market for these tools is growing fast. Experts think it will grow by 11.8% each year. This is from 2024 to 2032. It will be worth $3.73 billion.
The market grows by 5.60% each year until 2031. We look at Mailchimp, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Brevo, and Mails.ai. This is for our email marketing software comparison. This information helps you choose the best email marketing software. We check their features. We also look at how much they cost. Find the best email marketing solution. See its pricing for what your business needs.
Key Takeaways
Pick email marketing software that fits your business goals. Also, make sure it fits your budget.
Look for tools that do things automatically. Find ones that make emails personal. Check for AI tools too. These help make your campaigns better.
Learn about how they charge you. Some charge by how many people you email. Others charge by how many emails you send. This helps you control costs.
Think about platforms like Mailchimp if you are new to this. HubSpot is good for everything in one place. Mails.ai is for sending many cold emails.
Try out free versions first. This lets you test the software. Do this before you pay for a plan.
What You Need in Email Marketing Software
Think about your business goals. This is for choosing the right email marketing software. Know what you want the platform to do. This helps you pick a tool. It will truly fit your needs.
Top Features for 2026
Look at email marketing features. Focus on what helps you grow. Find tools that make work easier. They should also be more effective. In 2026, safe AI use will be key. This is more important than many features. Businesses will want email platforms with responsible AI. These should have approvals and permissions. They also need brand controls by default. You want features that do tasks automatically. They should make messages personal. They also need to track results. These email marketing features help you connect better. This is with your audience.
How Email Marketing Pricing Works
Learn about email marketing pricing models. This helps you plan your money. Different platforms charge in different ways. This changes your total cost.
Subscription-based (by subscriber count): Your cost depends on contacts. More contacts mean a higher price.
Send-based (by email volume): You pay for emails sent. This works for many contacts. But you send emails rarely.
Feature tiers: Many providers have different prices. Higher levels give more features. But the cost goes up.
CPM (Cost Per Mille) Pricing: You pay for every 1,000 emails sent. This is common for sending many emails.
Pay-As-You-Go Email Credits: You buy credits. Use them when you need them. This avoids a monthly plan.
Think about these pricing plans. They affect your email marketing costs.
Growing Your Business and Getting Help
Your chosen email marketing tools should grow with you. You need a platform that handles more contacts. It should also send more emails as you grow. Think about the help you can get. Good customer support solves problems fast. Also, think about the cost. You want a solution that gives good value. It should not cost too much money.
Mailchimp: Features and Pricing Review
Key Features and Strengths
Mailchimp helps you create and send email marketing campaigns easily. It is a platform that streamlines your work. You can build and manage your audience. You can also set up campaigns and check their performance. Mailchimp offers many useful features. These include email templates and A/B testing for paid plans. You also get automated nurture campaigns and email reporting. Mailchimp provides tools to build websites and e-commerce stores. You can even accept online payments in some regions. Its social media management features let you post and schedule content. The platform also includes task management, appointments, surveys, and ads. These features help you collect leads and send emails. Mailchimp offers strong marketing automation flows. It has an email builder and dynamic content options. You can use generative AI and a subject line helper. These tools make your content creation easier.
Pricing Structure and Tiers
Mailchimp's pricing depends on your contact list size. It also depends on the features you need. You can choose from several plans. Each plan has a different cost and email send limit.
Plan | Contacts | Monthly Cost | Monthly Email Sends |
|---|---|---|---|
Free | Up to 500 | $0 | 1,000 |
Essentials | Up to 500 | $13 | 5,000 |
Standard | Up to 500 | $20 | 6,000 |
Standard | Up to 1,500 | $45 | 8,000 |
Standard | Up to 10,000 | $135 | 120,000 |
Standard | Up to 50,000 | $450 | 600,000 |
Standard | Up to 100,000 | $800 | 1,200,000 |
Premium | Up to 10,000 | $350 | 150,000 |
Premium | Up to 25,000 | $620 | 375,000 |
Premium | Up to 50,000 | $815 | 750,000 |
Premium | Up to 100,000 | $1,025 | 1,500,000 |
Premium | Up to 200,000 | $1,600 | 3,000,000 |
Premium | Over 250,000 | Custom | Custom |
The email marketing pricing structure means your cost increases as your contact list grows. Higher plans unlock more advanced features. Mailchimp also offers a free plan for basic use.
Ideal User Profile
Mailchimp is best for ease of use. It suits small businesses and beginners. If you are starting with email marketing, Mailchimp offers a friendly interface. It provides enough features to get you going. Growing businesses can also use its automation tools. They can scale up to more advanced plans as their needs change.
HubSpot Email Marketing: Comprehensive Overview
Key Features and Strengths
HubSpot gives you a full platform. It helps with your email marketing needs. It handles your whole email marketing plan. You can make, send, and check campaigns. No other tools are needed. This platform works with your CRM. It also uses marketing automation. Customer service is included. This gives you full data analysis. HubSpot is easy to use. You do not need to know coding. It makes campaign design simple.
HubSpot has advanced email marketing automation. You can make automatic email flows. These are based on what customers do. This includes their browsing history. It also uses purchase history and personal details. This makes sure campaigns are targeted. You get a drag-and-drop email editor. It helps you quickly build nice-looking emails. The design is clean and smooth. Tools for personalization connect to HubSpot's CRM. This allows simple personalization. You can add contact names. More advanced 'smart content' is in higher plans. AI helps you write email content. It also helps with subject lines. This includes rewriting text. It can expand or shorten text. It can also change the tone. You can use these features on the free plan too.
You can set up workflows. These automate campaigns. This allows rules and actions. They are for different customer journey steps. For example, you can send follow-up emails. These are based on how people engage. Personalization at scale means adding contact info. It also gives personalized offers. It provides custom content. This uses CRM data. Lead scoring helps find important leads. It sorts contacts by actions. It also uses demographics. It looks at behavior or engagement. This helps send very targeted emails. Automatic drip campaigns are also there. These campaigns start when forms are sent. They also start with page visits. Or they start after past email interactions. This helps grow leads. Advanced analytics give strong reports. These show email performance. This includes open rates. It shows click-through rates. It also shows conversion rates. This helps make campaigns better. These strong features help your business grow.
Pricing Structure and Tiers
HubSpot's email marketing pricing is part of its Marketing Hub. The cost depends on your chosen Hub. It also depends on how many marketing contacts you have. Pricing starts at a basic price. It goes up with more contacts. For example, the Starter plan costs $20 each month. This is for 1,000 contacts. It lets you send emails up to 5 times your contact tier. Professional and Enterprise plans have one-time setup fees. These are $3,000 and $6,000. This is for the Marketing Hub.
Starter Price | Professional Price* | Enterprise Price** | |
|---|---|---|---|
1K | $20 | N/A | N/A |
2K | $40 | $890 | N/A |
5K | $96 | $1,140 | N/A |
10K | $176 | $1,390 | $3,600 |
20K | $336 | $1,890 | $3,700 |
30K | $496 | $2,340 | $3,800 |
50K | $816 | $3,190 | $4,000 |
$3,000 one-time Professional onboarding fee ** + $6,000 one-time Enterprise onboarding fee
HubSpot has a free plan. This plan includes marketing tools. It also has sales and service tools. Content and operations tools are there too. You get 2,000 emails. You also get 100 marketing contacts. It provides 20 landing pages. A website and blog are included. Ads and live chat are also part of it. These plans offer flexibility. They grow as your business grows.
Ideal User Profile
HubSpot is best for businesses. These businesses want an all-in-one solution. If you need strong CRM integration, choose HubSpot. It is also good for advanced automation. It fits companies well. These companies want to manage all marketing. They also want to manage all sales. They can do this from one platform.
ActiveCampaign: Automation and CRM Power
Key Features and Strengths
ActiveCampaign has strong tools. They help with your marketing. It has good automation. It also has advanced segmentation. A CRM is built-in. You can make personal email series. This is with Email Marketing Automation. This tool helps track leads. It also tracks deals. This uses Sales Pipeline Management. You can sort contacts. This is by their actions. It also uses past buys. This is through Advanced Segmentation. ActiveCampaign sends messages many ways. This includes email and SMS. It also uses Facebook Messenger. Site chat is also included. Lead Scoring finds good leads.
The tool does many tasks itself. This includes lead scoring. It also does segmentation. This helps manage leads well. It also automates sales tasks. This means updating contact info. It also sends personal emails. ActiveCampaign has a big community. Users share tips there. Partners also share tips. This helps use features best. You also get free help to move. This helps switch from other CRMs easily. These features make ActiveCampaign a good choice. This is for your business.
Pricing Structure and Tiers
ActiveCampaign changed its prices. It now has Starter, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise plans. The Starter plan costs $19 each month. This is for 1,000 contacts. This is cheaper to start than before. But, the new prices might cost more. This is for some users. This is because of fewer features. These are at a certain price. Limits on users and extra features also change the cost.
Here is how ActiveCampaign costs:
Plan | 1000 Contacts | 2500 Contacts | 5000 Contacts | 7500 Contacts | 10000 Contacts | 25000 Contacts | 50000 Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starter | $19 | $49 | $99 | $139 | $189 | NA | NA |
Plus | $59 | $119 | $179 | $209 | $239 | $489 | $759 |
Pro | $99 | $189 | $259 | $359 | $469 | $789 | $1,209 |
Enterprise | $179 | $319 | $469 | $599 | $739 | $1,099 | $1,459 |
Your price depends on your plan. It also depends on active contacts. Higher plans have more features. These include special content. They also have A/B testing in automation. Extra features and user seats can also change the total cost.
Ideal User Profile
ActiveCampaign is best for automation. It fits growing businesses. These businesses need smart automation. They also need strong CRM tools. If you want to automate complex marketing. And sales tasks. ActiveCampaign is a good choice.
Brevo (Sendinblue): Value-Driven Email Marketing Services
Key Features and Strengths
Brevo used to be called Sendinblue. It is an all-in-one marketing platform. You can use it for email. You can also use it for SMS. Chat and CRM are also included. All these are in one place. This platform has many features. AI helps you write subject lines. It also helps with email text. AI gives smart ideas to make campaigns better. You can run campaigns in many ways. These include email and SMS. WhatsApp and web push are also options. Brevo has a good Messaging API. It sends many transactional emails and SMS. It makes sure they get delivered well. You can manage live chat. You can also manage customer support. One inbox holds all talks. Brevo has a CRM built-in. It saves customer data. It helps manage sales. It helps you group your audience. Marketing automation builds workflows. These help get leads. They turn them into customers automatically. Brevo helps emails get delivered. It has an easy setup for authentication. You also get a basic delivery report. This email marketing service gives many reports. These show where people click. They also show where people are located.
Pricing Structure and Tiers
Brevo charges based on sends. You pay for how many emails you send. It has four different products. These are Marketing, Conversations, Sales, and Transactional Emails. All of them have free versions. The free plan lets you send 300 emails daily. It has basic features. These include email campaigns. SMS marketing is also included. Emails sent on the free plan show Brevo's name. Paid plans for Marketing start from $12. They go up to $65 each month. Prices go up if you send over 20,000 emails monthly. For example, the Starter plan costs $25 monthly. This is for 20,000 emails. The Business plan starts at $65 monthly. This is also for 20,000 emails. This cost can go up to $599 monthly. This is for 1,000,000 emails. Brevo also has a Pay As You Go choice. This gives flexible prices. This is for different ways of sending. These plans give good value for your money.
Ideal User Profile
Brevo is good for people who watch their money. It also suits those who need many tools. If you want full email marketing. And you do not want to pay a lot. Think about Brevo. Its free plan is very helpful. Small businesses or new marketers like it. Businesses wanting to try the service can use it. It gives the best value for your money.
Mails.ai Platform: Big Reach and Good Delivery
Key Features and Strengths
Mails.ai helps you reach many people. You can link many email accounts. There is no extra cost. This platform uses AI to write. It helps make emails interesting. It also has two ways to warm up emails. These are mailbox and campaign warmup. They make your sender look good. Inbox rotation sends emails from different accounts. This stops them from being spam. You get free email checks. This cleans your lists. It lowers bounced emails. Mails.ai works with Gmail. It also works with Outlook and Zoho. It works with custom SMTP accounts too.
AI makes emails better. It helps more emails get delivered. It also gets more replies. It keeps your sender looking good. You can add many contacts. This helps you reach more people. The platform has strong automatic tools. These help you add and check contacts. You can set daily sending limits. You can also make and send campaigns automatically. The AI email writer creates campaigns itself. It also sets them up. Real-time email checks make people engage more. It also helps emails get delivered. Automatic email warmup makes your sender look better. It also increases open rates. Mails.ai offers many email accounts. It also has many team members. This helps businesses of all sizes grow. An AI helper guides you. It helps set up campaigns. Then it works on its own. It changes sending patterns to be best. You also get custom domain tracking.
Mails.ai Pricing Structure and Tiers
Mails.ai has flexible prices. These plans depend on active contacts. This is per month. You can pick a plan that fits you. The email marketing pricing gives good value.
Plan Name | Cost | Contacts per Month | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Free Plan | $0 | None | Many email accounts, many email warmups |
Startup Plan | $24/month | 1,000 | Many emails, many warmups |
Growth Plan | $59/month | 5,000 | All features, unlimited access |
Pro Plan | $99/month | Unlimited | Many emails, all features including warmups |
These email marketing plans give you choices. You can start for free. Then you can pay more as you grow. The price means you only pay for what you need.
Ideal User Profile
Mails.ai is great for agencies. It also fits B2B SaaS companies. Businesses that want new leads will like it. Businesses that want to grow will find it useful. If you need to send many cold emails, use Mails.ai. Its strong delivery and automatic tools make it a top choice.
Comparative Analysis: Top Email Marketing Platforms
You have seen each platform. Now, let's compare them. This shows what each one does best. This part helps you compare email marketing software. You can then pick the right one.
Feature Comparison Table
This table lists important features. It helps you see what each platform has. You can compare them easily.
Feature/Platform | Mails.ai | ActiveCampaign | HubSpot Marketing Hub |
|---|---|---|---|
Key Strengths | AI Email Writer, high deliverability, unlimited email accounts, free email verification, automated follow-ups, unlimited sending | Advanced marketing automation, personalization, segmentation, multichannel marketing, AI-powered features | All-in-one solution, deep CRM integration, marketing automation, user-friendly interface |
Pricing (Starting) | Free Plan: $0/month; Startup: $24/month; Growth: $49/month; Pro: $99/month | $29/month (Lite plan) | Free tools available; Paid plans: $20/month (Starter) |
Ideal Use Case | Businesses needing many cold emails with high deliverability (SaaS, marketing agencies, consulting firms) | Businesses needing complex automation and personalization | Businesses seeking a full marketing tool integrated with CRM |
AI Features | AI Email Writer, AI-powered content | AI-powered features, Active Intelligence, AI Agents | Not explicitly mentioned for marketing features, but HubSpot generally uses AI |
Automation | Automated follow-ups | Advanced marketing automation, customer experience automation, targeted marketing automation | Advanced automation features |
Personalization/Segmentation | Fits what you offer | Advanced personalization, advanced segmentation, dynamic content | Not explicitly detailed, but implied through marketing automation |
Multichannel Marketing | Not explicitly mentioned beyond email | Email, SMS, WhatsApp, web, social media, site messages | Email, social media, content |
CRM Integration | Not explicitly mentioned | Connects easily with over 1,000 apps including CRM systems | Deep CRM integration with HubSpot CRM |
Ease of Use | Not explicitly mentioned | Not explicitly mentioned | User-friendly interface, drag-and-drop editor |
Analytics/Reporting | Not explicitly mentioned | Good analytics and reporting features (open rates, click-through rates, conversions) | Check how marketing is doing |
Email Verification | Free email verification | Not explicitly mentioned | Not explicitly mentioned |
Email Warmup | Unlimited email warmup (Free Plan) | Not explicitly mentioned | Not explicitly mentioned |
Landing Pages | Not explicitly mentioned | Not explicitly mentioned | Easy to build landing pages |
Ecommerce Integration | Not explicitly mentioned | Ecommerce email marketing tools | Not explicitly mentioned |
Free Plan Availability | Yes | No | Yes |
Email Marketing Pricing Comparison Table
Look at the pricing comparison for these email marketing platforms. Mailtrap Email Marketing has a free plan. It allows 4,000 emails. It also allows 100 contacts. This includes SMTP relay and API. Its Basic plan costs $15 monthly. This is for 10K+ emails. It is also for up to 50K contacts. The Business plan starts at $85 monthly. It offers 100K+ emails. It is for up to 750K contacts. It has a special IP address. The Enterprise plan costs $750 monthly. This is for 1.5M emails. It is for up to 2.5M contacts. It has all features. It also has fast help. A Custom plan is also offered. It has special pricing. It also has a dedicated delivery manager.
Here is a quick look. It shows the starting paid plans. This is for some email marketing services.
Platform | Free Plan | Starting Paid Plan | Key Features/Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
Brevo | Yes (unlimited contacts, 300 emails/day) | $9/month (5,000 emails/month) | A/B testing and multi-user access locked to Business tier or higher; SMS/WhatsApp pricing varies; custom branding requires add-on fee. |
HubSpot | Yes (paid from $15/month) | $15/month | Unified marketing hub, full CRM. |
ActiveCampaign | N/A | $15/month | Automation-focused, advanced customer journey orchestration. |
Brevo has a free plan. It is for 100,000 contacts. You can send 300 emails daily. It has limited features. Its Starter plan starts at $9 monthly. Think about these email marketing costs. This is when you choose. This email marketing software comparison helps you pick.
Picking Your Email Marketing Software
You have seen many choices. Now, pick the right email marketing software. Your business size matters. Your needs also matter. Think about your money. What features do you need most?
The best email marketing software is different for everyone. Your business needs and goals show what is best. Match features and prices to your plans now and later. Many tools have strong features and good automation. Mails.ai is great for emails that always land in the inbox. It checks emails for free. It gives you endless email accounts. You can send endless emails. It also warms up emails endlessly. It rotates inboxes endlessly. This gives great value. It works well for many cold emails. It also works for advanced automation. Think about how much different email marketing services cost. Also, look at their pricing plans. Use free trials to try tools yourself. Find the best email marketing solution for you. Get started for free today!
FAQ
How do you make sure emails get delivered?
Use platforms with good features. Look for email verification. Use automated warmup. Also, use inbox rotation. These tools help emails arrive. They keep your sender looking good.
What email software is best for small businesses?
Small businesses like easy platforms. Mailchimp has a good free plan. It has simple tools. Brevo also gives good value. It has a free plan. It offers many ways to send messages. Think about what you need. Also, think about your money.
Does AI help with email marketing?
Yes, AI helps a lot. It can write good content. It also writes subject lines. AI picks the best sending times. It makes messages personal. This makes campaigns better. It also saves your time.
Can you start email marketing for free?
Yes, you can start for free. Many platforms have free plans. These plans let you send some emails. Or manage a small contact list. They are good for trying things out. They help you get started.
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